By DOUG EADS, CJ Correspondent
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
Last weekend the Somerset Lady Briar Jumper volleyball team won its second consecutive 12th Regional All ‘A’ title.
Last night at Southwestern’s Wigwam, Kelli Venters’ club saw first hand just how wide the gap is to a regional crown regardless of class.
The Southwestern Lady Warriors, the two-time defending 12th Regional champions, made short work of Somerset last evening, as Skip Cottrell’s club coasted to a 25-8, 25-5 victory over the Lady Jumpers.
“Southwestern is a very good team and they’re the best team that we’ve seen to date, and our girls are just not there yet,” stated Venters, after watching her club fall to 6-8-1 on the season with the setback.
Southwestern wasted little doubt as to the outcome in this affair, thanks in large part to racing out to a 17-3 lead in game one, before recording the 25-8 win.
And, it was a total team effort.
Erin Cottrell led the way for the blue and orange with seven kills, while Ashley Montgomery notched four kills, Kelsie Adams tallied three, and Cassie Thompson chipped in with two.
“The girls have really worked hard this season and they worked extremely hard in the off season,” pointed out SWHS head coach Skip Cottrell, after his own club improved to 16-2 with the victory.
“They’re working hard each and every day at practice and it’s starting to show,” continued the Lady Warrior coach. “We’re beginning to get a lot more consistent with our serve, which is a huge, huge part of this game at this level, and we’re really beginning to serve it well.”
In game two, the Lady Warriors iced this match by racing out to an 8-0 lead right out of the gate on their way to a 25-5 game two victory to seal the match.
And, it was Southwestern’s service game that led to a lot of the damage.
Kasey Williams paced the Lady Warriors with eight aces on the night, while teammates Kari Popplewell and Adams each added three in the match.
“Our girls never quit tonight, but Southwestern is just a much better team than us right now,” stated Venters.
“Hat’s off to them because they’ve got a great team — they really do,” Venters added. “They are very well coached.”
Somerset with the loss will look to bounce tomorrow night, as the Lady Jumpers return home to face Clinton County.
Southwestern meanwhile will be looking to knock down another district win tomorrow evening at The Wigwam, as cross-town rival Pulaski County will lock horns with the Lady Warriors beginning at 7:30 p.m.
So coach Cottrell, Thursday night is another big game against another cross-town rival on a night when you’re probably going to get an opponent’s best shot.
As the two-time defending 12th Regional champion, has your team gotten used to getting your opponents ‘A’ game each and every night?
“I tell the girls that every day at practice,” stated Cottrell. “Now, I don’t know if it sinks in each time I tell them, but I always assume we’re going to get everybody’s ‘A’ game.”
“We remind the girls of that fact every time before they walk out on the floor, and I expect it will remain that way for the remainder of the season.”
